A Master of Education (MEd) degree can help you advance to leadership positions in teaching, administration, learning design, policy, and advocacy. The skills you gain and the credential you earn can translate into more impactful and fulfilling career opportunities to influence change. It can also increase your income.
If you’re considering adding this degree to your resume, you need to find a program that fits your career goals. You also need to figure out how to finance the program. This article can help you determine whether the Tulane online Master of Education program is right for you and how to pay for it.
If you are currently employed, your employer might be willing to finance some or all of your education. In a recent survey, nearly half of employers indicated they offer tuition assistance as an employee benefit. Such benefits are understandably popular because they help employers and employees, improving skills valuable to the former while broadening career opportunities for the latter.
As an educator, you may qualify for employer tuition assistance. Read on to learn how to find out whether your school district or education organization will support your aspirations to excel.
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What Are Employer Tuition Assistance Programs?
A tuition assistance program is a benefit offered by some employers to cover some or all of the costs of an employee’s education. Beneficiaries can use it to fund (or partially fund) an undergraduate or graduate degree program, job-related professional development courses, specific skill-building classes, and, in some instances, educational courses not explicitly job-related.
Tuition assistance programs benefit both the employer and the employee. They assist in recruiting new staff, retaining existing staff, boosting job satisfaction, and promoting new skills and knowledge.
What Can You Expect from Your Employer?
The conditions governing employee tuition assistance differ from organization to organization. Employers may limit the benefit to subjects specific to their industry, designate specific schools to attend, or mandate a minimum grade point average to retain the benefit.
Before contacting your human resources department, prepare a list of questions to help you determine whether you are eligible for tuition assistance and what conditions your employer requires.
Some questions to consider:
- Does the degree have to relate to your current role?
- Do you need to maintain a certain GPA?
- Are you required to submit regular reports on your progress?
- Are all employees eligible for tuition reimbursement and/or assistance programs?
- How long do you have to be employed before you can utilize the reimbursement program?
- Are you required to remain at the company for a specified period after completing the degree?
- How does reimbursement happen—does the company pay upfront or do you submit a request after a term is completed?
- What deadlines must you meet?
Starting the Funding Conversation With Your Employer
Now, you are prepared to reach out to your human resources representative to have your questions answered. Be sure that you fully understand any obligations you must fulfill to receive assistance, including required paperwork and all applicable deadlines.
If your employer does not offer tuition assistance, do not give up. Consider continuing the conversation by providing the essential reasons your organization should consider introducing tuition assistance benefits.
Tuition assistance is one way to alleviate the financial burden of continuing your education. Tulane’s website outlines other options that can reduce your costs, including a 20 percent scholarship for qualifying students, federal financial aid, and the Post-9/11 GI Bill® Yellow Ribbon Program.
Make the Most of a Part-time, Online Master of Education
Earning—and paying for—your master’s in education may be easier than you think. Consider the online master’s degree in education at Tulane University’s School of Professional Advancement, where you can achieve your degree in two years. The fully online program provides the flexibility you need—personally and professionally. Stay in your job while expanding your career potential with an MEd from Tulane.
The 100 percent online Master of Education from Tulane University builds leadership skills through real-world relevant courses and applied learning opportunities. The program instills foundational educational concepts focused on nurturing more innovative, inclusive, and equitable teaching and learning practices. Students can customize their degrees by choosing among four specializations: Equity-Centered Education Leadership, Learning Experience Design, Teaching English Learners, and Special Education.
Are you interested in learning more about the program benefits and financial aid options? Contact an enrollment advisor for an application walkthrough, tuition assistance, and more.